as in red lights
something that tells of approaching danger or risk
the résumé she accidentally left on the office printer was a red flag that she was planning to quit
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Recent Examples of red flags
However, there are ways to check for red flags and narrow down your prospect list.
—
Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
And nothing about his infatuation with Gemini had raised red flags for Rachel.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Here are three major red flags that your boss is embracing toxic positivity.
—Mita Mallick, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Fox had one of the best impacts on the Rangers’ expected goal generation last year at five-on-five, so there shouldn’t be any red flags there.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Other critics raise ethical red flags.
—Sonia Mankame, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
On paper, the mortgage documents may seem to raise red flags, since a borrower isn’t supposed to hold two principal-residence mortgages at once.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Alabama started Year 2 under Kalen Deboer by setting off a ton of red flags in a 31-17 loss to Florida State in Week 1, but the Tide bounced back with dominant wins over UL Monroe and Wisconsin.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Organizations that skip this step may overlook red flags that could later disrupt operations or endanger workplace safety.
—Kenneth Coats, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,kelli Grant, Cfp®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
And nothing about his infatuation with Gemini had raised red flags for Rachel.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Here are three major red flags that your boss is embracing toxic positivity.
—Mita Mallick, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Fox had one of the best impacts on the Rangers’ expected goal generation last year at five-on-five, so there shouldn’t be any red flags there.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Other critics raise ethical red flags.
—Sonia Mankame, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
On paper, the mortgage documents may seem to raise red flags, since a borrower isn’t supposed to hold two principal-residence mortgages at once.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Alabama started Year 2 under Kalen Deboer by setting off a ton of red flags in a 31-17 loss to Florida State in Week 1, but the Tide bounced back with dominant wins over UL Monroe and Wisconsin.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Organizations that skip this step may overlook red flags that could later disrupt operations or endanger workplace safety.
—Kenneth Coats, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for red flags
Noun
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After rolling out entrance ramp metering along Interstate 96 in Oakland County, the Michigan Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to pull all the way up to the stop line on red lights.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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El Cajon police Officer Melad Tilko, one of the officers who pursued Leyva, said the Sonata ran multiple red lights and drove onto the center median to circumvent rush hour traffic on the streets of El Cajon.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The law lowers daily transaction minimums, increases warnings on the kiosks, requires transaction receipts and requires Bitcoin ATM operators to issue refunds to victims of fraud, the release states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
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Rowley said that if Defend Our Juries did not heed warnings to delay or cancel the protest, the group should be aware that its activities would be met with police response.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In addition to the cut-through traffic prohibitions for trucks on residential streets, city staff will work with the City Council on ordinance revisions to strengthen penalties on truck operators and owners who do not comply with signs and restrictions.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Fellow wide receivers Chris Marshall and Cam Bates came over to celebrate with Brown before realizing he was still hunched over the ball and showed no signs of getting up.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Red flags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/red%20flags. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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